Chapter Twenty-Two: The Top Ten Before the Grand Tournament

“Ninth... Ninth Elder.”
Lin Bufan seemed a little awkward.
In just two days, he had gone from addressing him as Brother Shen to Ninth Elder—a change in seniority so abrupt that he hadn’t had time to adjust.
Shen Wan raised his eyebrows,
“My status was only conferred last night. How does everyone already know?”
“There was an announcement on the sect’s notification jade slip, so all disciples are aware.”
“Damn, that fast?”
Shen Wan was startled by the speed—comparable to a live broadcast back on Earth.
He imagined it must even come with an alarm reminder.
On second thought, it made sense.
No matter where you are, there’ll always be a few clueless people, and since he was a new face in the sect, this was probably to avoid unnecessary trouble.
It wasn’t a big deal, so Shen Wan let the thought go.
“So what’s happening today? So many people gathered early in the morning—some sort of grand competition again?”
Shen Wan voiced his curiosity, and Lin Bufan quickly replied,
“Today is the announcement of yesterday’s sect competition results. The top ten will be sent to Cloud Listening Ravine to cultivate.”
Lin Bufan’s voice trembled with excitement—after all, he was among the top ten.
“Cloud Listening Ravine? What’s that supposed to be?”
This sect was truly fascinating—first the Ten Prison Tower, and now this Cloud Listening Ravine.
“Ninth Elder, Cloud Listening Ravine is a forbidden ground of our sect. I’ve never entered, but I’ve heard there’s a Cloud Listening Lake inside. It’s said the lake connects to the heavens beyond and draws in celestial spiritual energy. If one cultivates in the lake, it’s possible to open the veins of heaven and earth, and one’s cultivation will soar like the bright moon and stars, boundless as the sky...”
“Alright, alright, I get it.”
Shen Wan hurriedly interrupted Lin Bufan.
He understood each term separately, but together they sounded like nonsense.
Connecting to the heavens, veins of heaven and earth—he felt utterly lost, his mind a muddle.
Still, Shen Wan gleaned some key information.
Today was simply a day for distributing results, and this Cloud Listening Ravine wasn’t some trial ground. That brought him a sigh of relief.
He certainly didn’t want another ordeal like the Ten Prison Tower.
With his doubts dispelled, Shen Wan looked at Lin Bufan’s flushed face and decided to change the subject:
“Brother Lin, could you stop calling me Ninth Elder? Let’s just treat each other as peers. Keep calling me Brother Shen—it sounds better to me.”
Lin Bufan quickly bowed again.
“I really can’t. You and my master are of the same lineage—I would not dare show disrespect.”
“You’re not that old, so why so stubborn?”
“Ninth Elder, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Lin Bufan refused the gesture, bowing deeply, not daring to lift his head.
“Sigh!”
Watching Lin Bufan’s respectful posture, Shen Wan felt helpless.
“How about this—Ninth Elder feels awkward to my ears. If you insist on seniority, then just call me Little Uncle from now on.”
On hearing this, Lin Bufan finally let out a long breath of relief.
“Yes, Little Uncle.”
“No need for formalities, Brother Lin.”
“Huh?”
“Damn, blockhead.”
Finding him dull, Shen Wan didn’t bother speaking further.
He stepped past Lin Bufan and opened the courtyard gate again.
“Let’s go see the results.”
Lin Bufan, already impatient, eagerly followed Shen Wan as soon as he spoke.

It was the same plaza as yesterday, teeming with people.
But this time, Shen Wan wasn’t squeezed into the last row.
Following Lin Bufan, he made his way to the very front of the line, standing before Grand Elder Wei Zhen.
After exchanging greetings with Wei Zhen, Lin Bufan took his place behind the Grand Elder.
Unsure where to stand, Shen Wan mimicked Lin Bufan and stood on Wei Zhen’s other side.
Wei Zhen looked at his junior brother with satisfaction, gratitude flickering in his eyes.
Last night, Lin Bufan had recounted the events within the Ten Prison Tower in even greater detail to Wei Zhen, hiding nothing before his master.
Wei Zhen understood his disciple’s situation well.
To Lin Bufan, a Condensing Pill was of immense importance—Wei Zhen knew this, and it was the reason for his gratitude toward Shen Wan.
Now, besides gratitude, Wei Zhen began to wonder if his junior brother might actually be their master’s child.
After all, he bore the surname Shen.
Otherwise, the feats he performed in the Ten Prison Tower would be inexplicable.
“Dong, dong...”
A few chimes of the bell, and the plaza instantly fell silent.
Wei Zhen snapped back from his reverie to reality.
Time for business.
The elders first introduced Shen Wan, the newly promoted elder, to the disciples.
Though brief, their words stirred a buzz among the crowd.
The disciples weren’t surprised, since they’d all received the sect’s notification last night, but...
This elder was awfully young.
Of course, Shen Wan wouldn’t miss the chance to show off.
Standing on the platform, he struck poses like a leader greeting the masses, waving in every direction, presenting himself in a full 180-degree sweep.
He recalled, aside from bowing his head in repentance before the entire school for fighting, he’d never enjoyed such glory.
Time flew, and his few minutes of showing off passed in a flash.
Still savoring the moment, Shen Wan returned to stand beside Wei Zhen.
Then came the segment all disciples awaited most.
The announcement of the sect competition rankings.
“Today marks the conclusion of our Qianxuan Sect’s triennial competition. This year’s event was more outstanding than ever before, with brilliant disciples from all halls achieving remarkable results.”
It was Elder Zhang Qi who spoke.
Wei Zhen stood among the elders, surveying the crowd, his face beaming.
“I am gratified to see several rare talents emerge in this competition.”
With that, Zhang Qi looked down at a disciple in the crowd and continued,
“Huang Shan from the Inscription Hall performed excellently. With cultivation at the fourth stage of Concentration, he forced his way through the fifth prison. If he continues like this, he’ll be among the top hundred in the future.”
Huang Shan’s face flushed as he heard this, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He was like a butterfly among a swarm of moths, radiating rainbow hues and attracting gazes from all directions.
Behind Zhang Qi, Elder Lian Qiuhan from the fourth hall curled his lips in disdain, muttering,
“Shameless—praising his own hall’s disciple first. How thick-skinned can he be?”
Though quiet, Zhang Qi caught the remark.
He snorted but ignored it, continuing with further commendations.
Mu Ran from the Forge Hall, Yang Mian from the Spell Hall, Zhao Dong’er from the Talisman Hall...
He praised several disciples in succession, but none from the Pill Hall.
This left Lian Qiuhan fuming on stage, unable to protest and forced to swallow his anger.
Finally, after the general commendations, the main event arrived.
Announcement of the top ten.
Standing beside Wei Zhen, Shen Wan felt a bit out of place.
If this were Earth, wouldn’t the leader on stage start with three brief points?

Here, the elders’ speeches were refreshingly concise—how adorable, he thought, chuckling to himself...
This time, Elder Yu Yan, youngest among the elders (except for Shen Wan), took over the announcements.
“Now, I will announce the top ten disciples of this competition.”
Her voice was gentle and graceful. Zhang Qi glanced at Lian Qiuhan, as if to say:
“See? Right after my speech, it’s Elder Yu’s turn. Know what that’s called? That’s called a matching duet.”
Lian Qiuhan’s brows shot up in anger and he glared fiercely at Zhang Qi,
“Sing your own song, damn it!”
The two exchanged unspoken words with their eyes, while Yu Yan gazed down at the disciples with pride.
“First place: Zhu Qianqing, inner disciple of the Spell Hall, who braved the tenth prison of the Ten Prison Tower, becoming the first in centuries to reach the summit.”
With that, the crowd erupted.
“Spell Hall? Zhu Qianqing? Who is she? I’ve never heard of her.”
“I think she’s from the Bamboo Valley Zhu family, but her talent wasn’t remarkable.”
“I know her, but she’s only at the third stage of Concentration. How could she pass the Ten Prison Tower?”
“Is this a joke? Did she cheat?”
“Shh, don’t say such things. Who knows whose relative she might be—watch your words, watch your words.”
“...”
The plaza became chaotic.
Following everyone’s gaze, all eyes eventually settled on Zhu Qianqing.
She lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment.
She knew full well her victory was less than honorable.
Hearing the murmurs around her, tears welled in her eyes.
At that moment, she wished she could disappear.
On stage, Shen Wan pondered.
The Ten Prison Tower records individual information, so there’s no way to fake who entered first.
“Looks like this girl got into that room ahead of Brother Lin.”
He glanced at Zhu Qianqing.
“Could it be... because she’s got certain advantages? Heh heh heh...”
Shen Wan indulged in his own wild speculations, his expression almost scandalously gleeful.
Yu Yan frowned at the commotion, then cast a spell of clarity over the crowd.
“Silence.”
Her voice penetrated every ear, and instantly, the plaza fell quiet.
Yu Yan and the elders knew exactly how Zhu Qianqing had won first place.
She wasn’t about to let anyone make a fuss over it.
Raising her hand, she gently motioned upward.
Zhu Qianqing’s body floated lightly to Yu Yan’s side.
Yu Yan patted her shoulder, channeling a gentle spiritual energy to calm her emotions.
Seeing Yu Yan’s warm gaze, Zhu Qianqing smiled in gratitude.
After a respectful bow, she quietly stood behind Yu Yan.
Yu Yan nodded, then turned to continue the announcement.
“Second place: Lin Bufan, personal disciple of the Grand Elder from the Spell Hall, who braved the Ten Prison Tower and reached the summit.”